Paint spray masking apparatus

ABSTRACT

Paint spray masking mechanism useful in the spraying of parts which must be partially masked prior to spraying. After the vessel is sprayed and removed from the mask, a stripper mechanism engages the inner surface of the part and raises it from its support so that the part can be removed without disturbing the wet spray.

United States Patent Edward L. Rich 3980 Peppermlll Lane, Bay City, Mich. 48706 Mar. 13, 1969 July 6, 1971 Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented PAINT SPRAY MASKING APPARATUS 12 Claims, 5 Drawing Pip.

US. Cl 118/301 Int. Cl B051: 5/00 Field oiSearchm. 118/301, 502, 504, 500

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1880 Maynard 2/1957 Scott 7/1957 Remington et a1 9/1962 MacArthur et a1,

Primary Examiner-John P. McIntosh Amzmey- Learman, Learman & McCulloch 118/502 X 118/301 X 118/502 X 113/301 X ABSTRACT: Paint spray masking mechanism useful in the spraying of parts which must be partially masked prior to spraying. After the vessel is sprayed and removed from the mask, a stripper mechanism engages the inner surface of the part and raises it from its support so that the part can be removed without disturbing the wet spray.

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INVENTOR EDWARD L. RICH AQW, lawn a ameuzzoaa PATENTED JUL 6 l9?! sum 2 BF 3 INVENTOR EDWARD L. RICH PATENTEDJUL 6197i 3590779 sum 3 BF 3 34c 380 I6 36 I60 5 INVENTOR EDWARD L. RICH PAINT SPRAY MASKING APPARATUS This invention relates to spraying machines incorporating masking mechanism, and includes mechanism for removing the article from its support after it has been sprayed.

In utilizing spraying devices, particularly paint sprayers, a handling problem is presented, particularly if substantially the entire outer gripping surface of the article is to be painted. Quite often the facilities of the sprayer require that the painted article be moved from the location where it is painted to another location where the paint may dry and further processing of the article may be accomplished. Frequently, these articles are also of a size and shape which can be most efficiently manually handled. If the gripping surface of the article is covered with wet paint, however, a portion of the painted surface will be smeared, the individual will get paint on his hands, and the painted, slippery surface increases the possibility of the article slipping from the operators hands. In hollow articles, the inner surface may be protected from spray by covering the bottom opening of the article. This will provide a dry surface which can be engaged, providing the inner surface is made accessible.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an'apparatus for spraying the outer surface of an article and then raising the article so that its unsprayed undersurface may be engaged to remove the article. I

It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus for spraying an article which includes means for stripping the article from the support after it has been sprayed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for spraying a hollow vessel which can be removed from the apparatus without marring the painted surface.

Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for spraying a hollow vessel which is mounted on a support means, preferably sealing the inner surface of the vessel from paint. Prior to spraying, a portion of the outer surface is masked. Means are connected with the support means for moving the vessel relative to spray means for spraying the vessel. Stripper means are mounted on the support for stripping the vessel from the support in response to the relative movement of the support means and the spray means.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by the following description, when considered in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus with the vessel in the initial position prior to spraying.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the spraying apparatus, illustrating the vessel raised into engagement with the masking plate in position to be sprayed.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, illustrating the spraying apparatus in the down" position, with the vessel in the process of being stripped.

FIG. 4. is a plan view of the spraying apparatus, particularly illustrating the reset mechanism, with the apparatus being in the position shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, side elevational view, illustrating an alternate embodiment in which a plurality of stripper mechanisms are employed.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar numerals will refer to similar parts in the various Figures, a hollow vessel tobe sprayed is shown generally at V in FIG. 1, supported by support means shown generally at S, with means M connected with support means S for relatively moving the vessel V toward and away from paint spray means, shown generally at P. Stripper means, shown generally at 34, is also mounted on support means S for stripping the vessel V from the support means S after it has been sprayed.

The support means S may suitably include a carriage having a cover plate 12 extending over a portion of its upper surface, a channel member 14 extending across the upper surface of plate 12, and a mounting block 16 supporting the vessel V and fixed on the channel 14.

The support means S is mounted on a frame, shown generally at F, including spaced-apart channellike columns C (FIG. 4) having vertical rails 18 secured on the inner walls thereof, to furnish guide surfaces for vertically traveling carriage 10. It will be seen that transversely extending brackets 20 on carriage 10 support follower rollers 22 which guide on the inner surface 18a of the guide rails during vertical travel of the carriage. As shown in FIG. 4, a transversely extending shaft 24 is joumaled in carriage 10, as at 26, for supporting follower gears 28 at each end of shaft 24. Gears 28 mesh with a rack 18b formed in the outer surface of guide rails 18 during vertical travel of carriage 10.

The means for raising and lowering the support means S is shown generally at M in FIG. 1, connected with support means S, and includes an air cylinder 30 having expansible bellows 30a connected with the under side of carriage 10. Bellows 30a are shown in the retracted position in FIG. 1, and in the expanded position in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the cylinder 30 is shown as having raised carriage 10 to its uppermost position with vessel V engaging masking means, shown generally at 32 at the top of the machine.

The apparatus disclosed herein is particularly adapted for the spraying of hollow vessels V having an outer surface V, and an inner surface V, defining a cavity V Vessel V, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, extends along the length of the mounting block 16 which preferably includes a slightly recessed portion 16a for snugly receiving the vessel V thereon. Preferably, the portion of mounting block 16 adjacent the recess portion 16a is formed of resilient material for sealing the inner surface V from the 'spray material which is to be applied to the outer surface V,.

As the carriage is raised from the position shown in FIG. 1 to that shown in FIG. 2, vessel V will engage the masking means 32. The masking means 32 includes a suitable support mount 320 connected with a portion of frame F and a laterally extending portion 32b extending the length of the top of the outer surface V, of vessel V. When the remainder of the outer surface is sprayed as will later be described, the top surface will remain dry. The spray means P is old and well known in the art, and will not be described in detail herein.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, stripper means, shown generally at 34, is mounted on support means S for stripping vessel V from mounting block 16. After the outer surface V, has been sprayed and the vessel lowered from the position shown in FIG. 2, the wet outer surface will hinder the removal of the vessel from the support. The stripper means 34 strips the vessel V from the mount 16 in a manner which will be presently described.

The stripper means, shown generally-at 34 in FIG. 4, includes a pair of spaced apart plungers 34a and 34b, each ineluding a plunger bar 34c having a stripper plate 34d affixed to its upper end. Plunger bars 34c, preferably square in cross section, are slidably mounted in bushings 36 which are fixed in the upper ends of a pair of cylinders 38. A washer 380, preferably having a square opening therein, is mounted atop each cylinder 38 to prevent bars 340 from turning about their own axes. Cylinders 38 depend from the bottom of channelshaped member 14, as shown. A stop member 342 is mounted on each plunger bar 34c such'as with a locking pin 14a and is slidably mounted in cylinder '38 for compressing spring 34f when the plunger bars 34c are raised upwardly. A stop pin 34g is mounted to each bar 34 c below the associated stripper plate 34d and serves to limit the downward movement of bar 340 by engaging washer'member 380 if desired, pin 34 g may be vertically adjustable along the length of bar 340. When the plungers 34a and 34b are raised relative to the mounting blocks 16 from the position shown in FIG. 1 to that shown in FIG. 3, stripper plates 34d engage inner surface V and move the vessel V into spaced relation with the support means S, whereby the inner surface V, may be engaged by the operator to remove the article from the plunger.

When the plungers 34a and 34b are lowered, a stop means 40 and 40a are connected with reset bars 45 and 45a, respectively, for interrupting the movement of bars 34c of the plungers. Bars 45 and 45a are reciprocably mounted on the front and back of the frame F (FIG. 4). In moving to the stripping position shown in FIG. 3, plunger bars 340 of the respective plungers are moved vertically relative to carriage 10, cylinder 38 and mounting block 16. This results in stripper plates 34d raising the vessel V off the .mounting block 16, the bars 34c in this position extending above the mounting block 16. The vertical position of bars 34c relative to the mounting block lii is automatically changed during the downstroke of carriage 10 after the spraying operation has taken place, when the bars 34c engage stops 40 and 40a, as particularly shown in FIG. 3. Reset bars 45 and 45a each have slots 41 formed at each end to receive mounting pins 41a which are fixed to channelshaped members C of the frame. As shown in FIG. 4, spacer members 41 are mounted about pins 41a for spacing bars 45 and 45a from the frame. A collar 42b is press-fitted on the end of pin 41a to secure bars 450.

A biasing means for biasing stops 40 and 40a into the path of bars 34c, as shown in FIG. 3 includes springs 46 and 46a (FIG. 4) connected between frame F and reset bars 45 and 45a, respectively, by any suitable means, such as pins 45b. Spring 46 biases bar 45 and stop 40 to the right, as viewed in the. drawing, whereas spring 46:: biases bar 45a and stop 40a to the left.

A release means, shown generally at R, in FIG. 1, is provided on the front of the machine for releasably securing stop 40 and 400 out of the path of plunger bars 34c. The release means R includes a plate 42 connected with bar 45 and a plate 43 connected with frameF in any suitable manner, such as by welding. Plate 42 is recessed at 420 (FIG. 3) for receiving a release lever 43b (FIG. 1) which is pivotally mounted about pin 43c attached to plate 43. As shown in FIG. 1, pivot pin 43c is offset from the middle of lever 43b so that the weight of the lever 43b will urge it into contact with pin 43d, also formed on plate 43. Pinned to carriage 10, as at 44a, is a trip rod 44, having a pivotally mounted wedge 44b mounted on the bottom end thereof, as shown. As the carriage 10 is moved upwardly from the position shown in FIG. 1, movement of the carriage will bring wedge means 44b into contact with the end of [ever 43b to pivot lever 43b aboutpin 43c into recessed portion 42a of plate 42. At this time, the lowermost portion of plunger bars 34c will have been raised above stops 40 and 40a, and the insertion of lever 43b into recess 42a will release the stop means 40 and reset bar 45, and permit spring 46 to move bar 45 and stop 40 to the right where they will be in the position shown in FIG. 3. As will be described more fully hereinafter, bar 45 is also coupled to bar 45a by means of a reset lever 50 to move bar 45a and stop 40a to the left underthe force of biasing spring 460. A spring 460 connects wedge 441: with the middle portion of trip rod 44 so that wedge means 441: will be returned to the position shown in FIG. 1 when it contacts the end of lever 43b on the downstroke.

The reset lever 50 is particularly illustrated in FIG. 4, having a pair of spaced apart slots 50a for receiving pins 50b which are connected with reset bars 45 and 45a. Lever 50 has a handle portion 500 at the front of the machine for pivoting lever 50 about pin 46d which is fastened to frame F. Movement of handle 50: in the direction shown by the arrows in FIG. 4 will shift bar 45 to the left and bar 45a to the right from the position shown in FIG. 3, to that shown in FIG. 1. This will enable lever 43b to slide out of recess 42a, whence it will fall under its own weight to the position shown in FIG. 1. In this position, lever 43b will prevent movement of the stops 40 and 40a until the carriage 10 is raised and wedge means 44b contacts lever 43b.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment wherein the support means S includes a plurality of stripper means 34 for stripping the hollow vessels V from support mount 16. All other mechanisms in this embodiment remain the same, functionally operating in the same manner.

In operation, and with the plunger bars 340 and stripper plates 34d normally in the "down" position shown in FIG. 1, cylinder 30 is operated to raise the carriage to dispose the upper surface of the vessel V in engagement with the masking plate 32b. Sprayer P is operated in the conventional manner to spray paint the outer surface of vessel V with the exception of the masked portion. The inner surface V is sealed on mounting block 16 and remains dry. During upward movement of the carriage 10, wedge means 44b moves lever 43b to the horizontal position, thereby releasing reset bars 45 and 45a from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 3 under the force of biasing springs 46 and 46a. This results in stops 40 and 40a being disposed beneath the plunger bars 340 and as the carriage 10 and vessel V are lowered, stops 40 and 40a interrupt the movement of bars 340 and prevent them from lowering further. The mount 16, however, continues to move downwardly with the carriage 10, which has the effect of raising vessel V above the mount 16 so that it can be manually gripped by its top and bottom edges without contacting the painted sidewalls. Once the vessel V is removed, the operator pivots the reset handle 50c in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 4, which has the effect of moving reset bar 45 and stop 40 to the left and reset bar 45a and stop 40a to the right, thereby permitting plunger bars 340 to move downwardly under the force of biasing spring 34f. Lever 43b is then returned to the position shown in FIG. 1 to hold thereset bar in this position until the carriage 10 is once again raised and the cycle can be repeated.

It is to be understood that the drawings and descriptive matter are in all cases to be interpreted as merely illustrative of the principles of the invention rather than as limiting the same in any way since it is contemplated that various changes may be made in the various elements to achieve like results without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. Apparatus useful in spraying a spray material on the outer surface of a concave-convex vessel comprising:

a frame;

a support movably mounted on said frame for supporting said vessel;

a mask for preventing a portion of the outer surface of said vessel from being sprayed with said spray material;

a source of power connected with said support for moving said vessel into and out of engagement with said spray mask;

a stripper plunger slidably mounted on said support for engaging the inner surface of said vessel;

a stop mounted on a bar which is slidably mounted on said frame;

a plate having raised and recessed bar;

a release lever pivotally mounted on said frame;

portions mounted on said a spring connected between said bar and said frame for bias ing said raised portion into engagement with said lever; and

a trip rod mounted on said support means for pivoting said lever into said recessed portion when said support is raised 2. Apparatus useful in the spraying of a spray material on the outer surface of a hollow vessel comprising:

masking means for masking a portion of the outer surface of a hollow vessel to be sprayed;

support means for supporting said vessel;

means for relatively moving said support means and said masking means between remote and adjacent masking positions; and

stripper means mounted on said support means for stripping said vessel from said support means after said vessel has been sprayed and removed from said masking means.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 comprising:

spray means proximate said masking means for spraying spray material on said vessel when said support means and said masking means are in said adjacent masking positions.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said stripper means is mounted for movement with and relative to said support means to engage the inner surface of a vessel supported thereon and strip it from said support means; said moving means including means for moving the support means relative to said masking means; and stop means movable between a remote position and an operative position in the path of said stripper means moving to said remote position to interrupt movement of said stripper means while said support means is being moved to said remote position to cause the stripper means to move relative to said support means and strip the supported vessel.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said stripper means comprises plunger means slidably mounted in said support means, said plunger means including plate means for engaging the inner surface of said vessel and moving said vessel in spaced relation with said support means whereby the inner surface of said vessel may be engaged to remove said article from said plunger.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 further including yieldable means for biasing said stop means into the path of said stripper means and means for releasably securing said stop means in said remote position, out of the path of said stripper means.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said releasable securing means includes means responsive to movement of said support means to release said stop means and permit said yieldable means to move said stop means from said remote position into the path of said stripper means, and means for resetting said release means.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said support means is movable between a lowered, vessel loading position and a raised, vessel spraying position adjacent said masking means to move a vessel supported thereon to and from said masking means; and

said moving means includes means connected with said support means for raising and lowering said support means between said vessel loading and said vessel spraying positions; said stripper means being responsive to the lowering of said support means to strip said vessel from said support means.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said stripper means for stripping said vessel includes plunger means movable relative to said support means in a path of travel to engage the inner surface of a vessel supported thereon to strip it from the support means; stop means movable in response to movement of said support means from a nonunderlying position to a position underlying said plunger means to interrupt movement of said plunger means as said support means is lowered whereby said plunger means is moved relative to said support means to displace said vessel from said support means.

10. Apparatus useful in spraying a spray material on the outer surface of a concave-convex vessel comprising:

a frame;

a support member movably mounted on said frame for supporting said vessel;

a spray mask for preventing a portion of the outer surface of said vessel from being sprayed with said spray material;

motor means connected with said support member for moving said support member to and from said spray mask so that a vessel positioned on said support member is moved into and out of engagement with said spray mask;

a stripper plunger mounted on said support member for movement in a to-and-fro path for engaging the inner surface of said vessel to strip a sprayed vessel from the support member;

a stop member movably mounted on said frame for interrupting the movement of said stripper plunger while said support means is moving from said spray mask;

means for releasably securing said stop means out of the path of said stripper means; and

means operative to release said securing means as said support means is moving to release the stop means and permit it to move into the path of said stripper means. 11. Apparatus useful in spraying a spray material on the outer surface of a hollow vessel comprising:

support means for supporting a hollow vessel; means for moving said support means from a lowered vessel receiving position to a raised position in which the vessel may be sprayed and for then returning the support means to said lowered position;

stripper means movable with and relative to said support means for stripping a vessel from said support means; and

stop means movable from a nonunderlying position to a position underlying said stripper means when the support means is moved between said lowered and raised positions to interrupt the downward movement of said stripper means whereby said stripper means is moved relative to said support means to displace said vessel from said support means.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including yieldable means biasing said stop means into the path of said stripper means; means for releasably securing said stop means out of the path of said stripper means; and means responsive to movement of said support means for operating said securing means to release said stop means and permit it to move into the path of said stripper means. 

1. Apparatus useful in spraying a spray material on the outer surface of a concavo-convex vessel comprising: a frame; a support movably mounted on said frame for supporting said vessel; a mask for preventing a portion of the outer surface of said vessel from being sprayed with said spray material; a source of power connected with said support for moving said vessel into and out of engagement with said spray mask; a stripper plunger slidably mounted on said support for engaging the inner surface of said vessel; a stop mounted on a bar which is slidably mounted on said frame; a plate having raised and recessed portions mounted on said bar; a release lever pivotally mounted on said frame; a spring connected between said bar and said frame for biasing said raised portion into engagement with said lever; and a trip rod mounted on said support means for pivoting said lever into said recessed portion when said support is raised
 2. Apparatus useful in the spraying of a spray material on the outer surface of a hollow vessel comprising: masking means for masking a portion of the outer surface of a hollow vessel to be sprayed; support means for supporting said vessel; means for relatively moving said support means and said masking means between remote and adjacent masking positions; and stripper means mounted on said support means for stripping said vessel from said support means after said vessel has been sprayed and removed from said masking means.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 comprising: spray means proximate said masking means for spraying spray material on said vessel when said support means and said masking means are in said adjacent masking positions.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said stripper means is mounted for movement with and relative to said support means to engage the inner surface of a vessel supported thereon and strip it from said support means; said moving means including means for moving the support means relative to said masking means; and stop means movable between a remote position and an operative position in the path of said stripper means moving to said remote position to interrupt movement of said stripper means while said support means is being moved to said remote position to cause the stripper means to move relative to said support means and strip the supported vessel.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said stripper means comprises plunger means slidably mounted in said support means, said plunger means including plate means for engaging the inner surface of said vessel and moving said vessel in spaced relation with said support means whereby the inner surface of said vessel may be engaged to remove said article from said plunger.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 further including yieldable means for biasing said stop means into the path of said stripper means and means for releasably securing said stop means in said remote position, out of the path of said stripper means.
 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said releasable securing means includes means responsive to movement of said support means to release said stop means and permit said yieldable means to move said stop means from said remote position into the path of said stripper means, and means for resetting said release means.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said support means is movable between a lowered, vessel loading position and a raised, vessel spraying position adjacent said masking means to move a vessel supported thereon to and from said masking means; and said moving means inclUdes means connected with said support means for raising and lowering said support means between said vessel loading and said vessel spraying positions; said stripper means being responsive to the lowering of said support means to strip said vessel from said support means.
 9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said stripper means for stripping said vessel includes plunger means movable relative to said support means in a path of travel to engage the inner surface of a vessel supported thereon to strip it from the support means; stop means movable in response to movement of said support means from a nonunderlying position to a position underlying said plunger means to interrupt movement of said plunger means as said support means is lowered whereby said plunger means is moved relative to said support means to displace said vessel from said support means.
 10. Apparatus useful in spraying a spray material on the outer surface of a concavo-convex vessel comprising: a frame; a support member movably mounted on said frame for supporting said vessel; a spray mask for preventing a portion of the outer surface of said vessel from being sprayed with said spray material; motor means connected with said support member for moving said support member to and from said spray mask so that a vessel positioned on said support member is moved into and out of engagement with said spray mask; a stripper plunger mounted on said support member for movement in a to-and-fro path for engaging the inner surface of said vessel to strip a sprayed vessel from the support member; a stop member movably mounted on said frame for interrupting the movement of said stripper plunger while said support means is moving from said spray mask; means for releasably securing said stop means out of the path of said stripper means; and means operative to release said securing means as said support means is moving to release the stop means and permit it to move into the path of said stripper means.
 11. Apparatus useful in spraying a spray material on the outer surface of a hollow vessel comprising: support means for supporting a hollow vessel; means for moving said support means from a lowered vessel receiving position to a raised position in which the vessel may be sprayed and for then returning the support means to said lowered position; stripper means movable with and relative to said support means for stripping a vessel from said support means; and stop means movable from a nonunderlying position to a position underlying said stripper means when the support means is moved between said lowered and raised positions to interrupt the downward movement of said stripper means whereby said stripper means is moved relative to said support means to displace said vessel from said support means.
 12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including yieldable means biasing said stop means into the path of said stripper means; means for releasably securing said stop means out of the path of said stripper means; and means responsive to movement of said support means for operating said securing means to release said stop means and permit it to move into the path of said stripper means. 